Craniosacral System

Craniosacral therapy is used for a wide range of symptoms, including neck and low back pain, chronic fatigue, temporomandibular joint syndrome, fibromyalgia and even emotional issues like depression and anxiety.

It is especially good for chronic conditions that may have a neurological component, like coordination problems, hyperactivity and learning disorders. It has even been used to treat autism; Dr. Upledger has found that the meninges of most autistic children are unusually tight and that it is possible to loosen them during a CST treatment.

This therapy involves the Craniosacral system which extends from the skull to the bottom of the spine and consists of the brain, spinal cord, cerebrospinal fluid and surrounding membranes. The practitioner uses a light touch to restore cerebrospinal fluid movement. This can help treat such conditions as headaches, eye and ear problems as well as whiplash and back pain.

One of the hallmarks of craniosacral therapy is the use of a very light touch. The amount of pressure used is seldom more than 1 ounce, and is often more on the order of 5 grams the weight of a nickel. By using such gentle pressure, the therapist assists the clients body to self-correct and avoids encountering resistance.

Becoming more popular everyday, infant massage has been proven to help infants gain weight and speed development. It is taught to mothers as a way to bond with their new children.Other techniques include Chi Nei Tsang, Reflexology, Shiatsu,Thai Massage, Amma Therapy, Alexander Technique, Aston Patterning, Bioenergetics, Bowen Technique, and Craniosacral Therapy.

Some medical massage schools do offer advanced training programs and educational curriculums that involve neuromuscular therapy, advance craniosacral therapy; and other related subjects in effort to promote continuing education to licensed massage therapists.

This involves the craniosacral system, the part of the body which extends from the top of the skull to the bottom of the spine. What the therapist does is uses touch to restore the movement of the cerebrospinal fluid. Many people find this form of therapy works effectively in treating such conditions as headaches, ear and eye problems and also for the treatment of back pain, including whiplash.

In addition to deep tissue, Swedish and sports massage, students can receive comprehensive training in over a hundred types of massage-related therapies, such as: medical massage, acupressure, aromatherapy, myofascial release, neuromuscular massage therapy, prenatal massage, Shiatsu, reflexology, Tuina, Thai massage, craniosacral therapy, and many others. A few massage therapy schools integrate more advanced therapies (such as chiropractics or acupuncture) along with basic massage instruction, to give students a greater variety of methods from which to choose.

Students may elect to enroll in more advanced Massage Therapy Classes that provide practical training in cross fiber massage, canine and equine massage, hot stone massage, infant massage, neuromuscular therapy, reiki, Trager therapy, trigger point, Thai massage, craniosacral therapy, and multiple other modalities.

Other non-conventional medical therapies that are taught at alternative medicine schools may be Ayurveda;, osteopathy, macrobiotics, orthomolecular medicine, craniosacral therapy, hypnotherapy, iridology, aromatherapy, and even visualization techniques.